Cyclone grants offer
THE loss of the irreplaceable in the aftermath of a severe weather event is something Far Northern SES director Wayne Coutts does not wish upon anyone.
Mr Coutts said cyclone preparation in the form of digitising old photos and important documents is often overlooked by Far Northern families.
“(But) when people realise they have not made their preparation it makes it hard for people to get back up on their feet and recover,” he said. “People need to make sure that they can keep those physical memories in some sort of shape or form.”
More practical preparation is also available in the form of cyclone protection grants for low income earners living within the 50km coastal danger zones.
Grants of up to $11,250 to better-protect homes built before 1984 can now be applied for.
Community information sessions will be held in Cairns this week to inform residents in cyclone-prone areas about how they can apply.
Member for Cairns Michael Healy will speak to homeowners about the $20 million Household Resilience Program at the Cairns Local Disaster co-ordination Centre on Windarra St in Woree between 6pm-7pm this evening.
Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said the program was funded in the 2017-18 State Budget to start helping low-income households in pre-1980s homes to improve their resistance to cyclones and help make Queensland the most resilient state in the country.
“The program will help low-income households wanting to take preventive measures that should flow through to lower insurance premiums,” Mr Pitt said.
Applicants would be income tested to ensure the money reached the people who needed it most and approved applicants will be required to make a minimum 25 per cent co-contribution towards work on their home.
Housing Minister Mick de Brenni said there had been more than 800 applications for funding, including 162 in Cairns.
“They must live in a cyclone-risk area within 50km from the coast and own, or be the mortgagor, of a house built before 1984,” Mr de Brenni said.